Question & AnswerQ&A (DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2010-11)
The basic policy of the state is to ensure the sustainable use, development, management, and conservation of the country's forest resources for present and future generations, promoting the use of high quality planting materials to ensure sustainable production and supply of wood and other forest products.
The primary objectives include ensuring continuous production of high quality planting materials, developing seed and seedling registry systems, establishing accreditation systems for seed production areas and nurseries, providing strategies for the establishment and protection of SPAs, SSOs, SCOs, and SS, and updating the seed calendar for appropriate seed collection periods.
A Seed Production Area (SPA) is a plantation with known origin or a stand of natural forest with superior phenotypic characters selected based on maturity and capacity to produce abundant seeds, with majority healthy trees meeting specific characteristics like height, diameter, and crown size.
The NFTSC acts as the oversight and policy-making body governing forest tree seed collection, handling, disposition, and seedling production, assessing national planting material supply, recommending tree improvement frameworks, regulating seed export/import, and sourcing funds for implementation.
The RED/PENRO/CENRO in coordination with LGUs, academic institutions and other partners are responsible for government SPAs, SSOs, SCOs, and SS, while owners are responsible for private areas, in coordination with DENR at regional and local levels.
Treatments include stand improvement through thinning, roguing, pruning, and removal of diseased or undesirable trees, ensuring sufficient seed trees per hectare and management of understorey vegetation.
Any person or group who cuts, mutilates, or damages trees within these areas without a permit or contrary to prescribed treatments shall be punished under Sections 68 and 69 of P.D. 705, as amended, and P.D. 953.
Application to the CENRO/PENRO with information including owner details and proof of land ownership, business permit, location, number and quality of selected mother trees, estimated seed yield, and seed collection, testing and storage capabilities; followed by field verification and approval by the Regional Executive Director.
Seed collection must be by trained and authorized individuals; seeds from government sources must be brought to nearest Seed Storage and Testing Centers for testing and certification before disposition; private seeds must also be tested and certified by these centers.
They implement NFTSC plans regionally, assess and verify seed sources and handling, accredit seed production areas and nurseries, and train forest workers and local government staff in seed and seedling management activities.